In the Doghouse - Chapter 161
The first to notice that the Crown Princess’s loss of appetite might have another cause was Isabella. Courtney herself assumed it was simply due to emotional stress.
By early evening, when the office was clear, Isabella approached and presented something she had prepared.
“Your Highness, do you recognize this?”
“Hmm? A quill? Oh…”
At first, Courtney answered without much thought, but then quickly recognized the item. It looked like a white quill but was actually a magical tool meant for another purpose. It was a well-known product from a family that rivaled House Chalder.
When she recognized it, Isabella promptly got to the point.
“You haven’t had much of an appetite lately. I thought maybe this could help.”
“Well…”
Courtney was hesitant to agree with Isabella’s suggestion, her gaze drifting to the calendar on her desk. It was true things were delayed, but it wasn’t the first time.
“Nothing to lose by trying,” Isabella encouraged her again, seeing her reluctance.
Courtney studied the unfamiliar item resting on her desk.
This was a magical tool that could determine pregnancy.
It was quite common among the noblewomen of the capital, expensive as it was and not entirely accurate—especially considering it only worked for one use. Many women, though, preferred this to having physicians come to their homes.
Courtney understood this feeling. It was painful to face disappointment, and even more painful to have anyone else witness it.
After a moment of hesitation, she picked up the magical tool. Isabella was right—there was no harm in trying.
“All right, I’ll give it a try.”
“You know how to use it?”
“Yes.”
Courtney nodded, remembering that she had heard the instructions before. The process was simple—she only needed to place the pen-like tip into her body briefly and then remove it.
Isabella quickly closed the curtains over the windows. When she turned to face the wall, Courtney lifted her skirt and, after hesitating a bit, loosened the ties of her undergarments.
Even so, she hesitated again, finding the whole ordeal strange and embarrassing.
Best to get it over with. Courtney used her fingers to part herself slightly and inserted the end of the device.
“Ugh…”
Though it was barely the thickness of a finger, it felt uncomfortable going into her dry, sensitive passage. As she let out a soft, pained sound, Isabella called out from where she was turned away.
“Don’t pull it out right away!”
“Yes…”
Maybe she should have just asked Isabella to leave the room. It was too late to regret it now, though. Courtney looked up at the ceiling, waiting as long as she could. Not knowing exactly how long was needed, she just had to endure it for as long as possible.
Tick, tick—
She could hear the second hand moving, and with the strange object between her legs, she began to feel a little foolish.
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, she spoke up.
“Do you think this is enough?”
“Probably…?”
Despite her loyalty, Isabella had never had the means to use such a tool herself.
Courtney counted to ten in her head, then removed the tool with a pop. Next time, she thought, she’d just call for a physician. After pulling up her undergarments and skirt, she spoke.
“You can turn around now.”
Curious, Isabella quickly approached the desk. Courtney stared at the tool that had just been inside her, noting that, as expected, the feather had shown no change in color.
“Looks like it’s not.”
“Maybe we didn’t wait long enough? You could try again…”
“I’d rather not.”
Courtney grimaced in distaste, but just then, Isabella’s eyes widened.
“Your Highness! It’s changing color!”
“What…?”
Courtney quickly looked down as well. Just as Isabella had said, the feather was starting to show a faint bluish hue. It was so subtle she almost wondered if it had been that color all along.
The two women stared intently at the feather, wide-eyed. Like a drop of dye slowly spreading through water, the color at the tip of the feather grew gradually deeper. As Courtney remained speechless, Isabella exclaimed in delight.
“It looks like you’re with child! I heard that while it doesn’t always change color even if you are, when it does, it’s certain!”
“Oh… oh…”
Courtney was too stunned to form words, stammering like a carriage with a broken wheel. In contrast, Isabella was beside herself with joy. The birth of an imperial heir would secure the Crown Princess’s position.
“Congratulations, Your Highness. I don’t know what else might be troubling you, but surely this news will resolve things with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Her words snapped Courtney back to reality.
Pregnancy. And at a time when her thoughts were already overwhelmed.
She spoke hastily.
“For now… don’t tell anyone.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean… I’ll announce it formally once it’s confirmed. This includes informing His Majesty the Emperor… understood?”
Though Courtney looked more worried than happy, it was a reasonable request. It was only right to confirm such an important matter with a physician first.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Isabella nodded firmly in agreement.
Just then, the office door burst open. Courtney hurriedly shoved the magical tool into a drawer.
“Your Highness! I brought flowers from the greenhouse…”
Rebecca, holding an armful of flowers and beaming, trailed off as she noticed the odd atmosphere in the room.
Both the Crown Princess and Isabella were glancing around, pretending to be engrossed in something else. It looked as though they’d been discussing something in secret before Rebecca arrived—just like before.
The smile quickly faded from Rebecca’s face, and she spoke in a somber tone.
“Is something going on?”
“Oh, no! Those flowers look lovely!”
Courtney, trying to sound enthusiastic, reached out for the bouquet. This only confirmed Rebecca’s suspicions. She was sure now that they were keeping something from her—and just her.
She knew she shouldn’t feel upset, but emotions aren’t as easy to compartmentalize as cutting vegetables. Rebecca handed the flowers over, a mixture of complex feelings evident in her expression.
“The weather’s been so gloomy lately, so I thought something beautiful might cheer you up.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Courtney hugged the bouquet to her chest, but her mind was far from the flowers.
Pregnant. An heir to the throne. This wasn’t just a personal matter between her and Richard—it was an issue that involved the entire Empire. It was the future that the Emperor had been eagerly awaiting.
Just as much as it did throughout the imperial palace, a storm of confusion swirled within her own heart.
